My nephew has horrible allergies and uses some expensive medicine. He lost his job around Christmas so he no longer is covered by insurance. His COBRA was just too expensive.

Anyway, the drug company is giving him a year of his medicine for free. If he still is not in a better position by the end of the year, they told him to reapply for it. He had 2 pills left when his year’s worth of medication came in the mail without any notice.

Ask him if he believes in a loving God. You will hear a resounding “yes”.

]]>By: GnuBreedhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2706773
Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:18:00 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2706773This is beyond belief. A lifetime supply of anti-rejection drugs should be part and package of any foreign tissue transplant. That is because they are required for the life of the transplant. Everyone knows this prior to the transplant. Do heart, lung or liver recipients face similar limits?

Hell, Ed, you have connections use them. Ask MM to tell Glenn Beck about this. Call your Rep/Senator and ask for a chance to address Congress. Sunlight /disinfectant.

]]>By: News of the Day - 9/14/09 | The Lonely Conservativehttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2706114
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:43:25 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2706114[...] for life. The result is either repeat transplants or transplant recipients undergoing dialysis. Sometimes people die due to this policy. What would you call the bureaucrats who came up with such a [...]
]]>By: Dannyhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2706107
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:42:35 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2706107Want another example?

Elderly man with an ear infection involving his middle ear due to a perforated ear drum (tympanic membrane)…

Unfortunately, the organism is aspergillus, a particular type of fungus which can be difficult to treat…

He cannot tolerate ear drops because of the perforated ear drum -> intense pain… If not treated – there would be concern of progression through the bone and infecting the brain…

Cosequently, we are left with oral or IV (intravenous) therapy – however the standard of care medication is not generic, a second line therapy can exacerbate his congestive heart failure…

Prolonged IV therapy available can increase risk of blood clot. The cheapest therapy (amphotericin) can increase his risk of kidney toxicity – he already has poor renal function. That leaves an alternative active drug – however also not generic…

Add to this that the patient currently is in the Medicare donut… Even if not – because the other FDA approved therapies – voriconazole & caspofungin – are not generic and are considered “Tier 4″ medications – I was told that Medicare wouldn’t cover these medications anyway…

Although he also is an AARP member – his added plan through them would not cover these drugs either. (We have heard where AARP stands with the current gov’t health care proposals…)

If not for Pfizer – that big bad evil pharmaceutical company – which has agreed to provide FREE drug for treatment through the end of the year (if needed) – he would be faced with up to $3000/month (or more) to pay for therapy out of pocket (to get through the donut) – which he cannot afford at this time.

For all politicians out there… fix this type of problem first – instead of reinventing the wheel – and screwing everyone with the currently proposed plan…

]]>By: jeaniehttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2705820
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:08:40 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2705820As for prevention, in the case of autoimmune diseases prevention seldom/never works. If you have the gene and something triggers it(unknown at this point)you’re going to have it, period.
]]>By: jeaniehttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2705731
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:53:55 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2705731I take very low dosage immunosuppressants for an auto immune disease. If my husband did not have coverage through
his retirement plan, I would run out after 3 years too. Without them it would only be a matter of time before the disease would again begin attacking otherwise healthy tissue putting me on the road to transplant. In my case transplant is notpossible as I am over the agelimit where this is feasible even under present protocols.rwq
]]>By: Labamigohttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2705657
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:43:22 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2705657I donated a kidney to my son 19 years ago; he still has it. Just the other day, I did some ‘back of an envelope’ math and concluded that he has taken 35,000 pills so far to ward of rejection.

I am very fortunate that I have always had medical insurance through my employer(s) that has covered the vast majority of our expenses. But, even with that, I fear that The Worst President in American History cares little about Americans other than the wealthy and the healthy.

]]>By: allrsnhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704849
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:30:53 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704849This is just a lone sample of the many stupid things we can expect under Obama care. We must not allow it to happen, if it does we MUST reverse it while we still can.
]]>By: allrsnhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704841
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:28:43 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704841I understand their was a post maintenance posting problem this weekend, I still had it today. I re-registared.

Testing

]]>By: PaCadlehttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704766
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:11:05 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704766It may be even more precarious for us, the lied-to military retirees and our dependents. Nursing her second kidney transplant, the wife goes in the medicare system in 5 years. Heaven forbid that will be O’s second term because I don’t imagine he’ll feel real bad about a necessity to turn the Tricare system upside down. It’s incomprehensible that “the system” would end our meds, kill our kidney and send us to the dialysis lines.
]]>By: Mervis Winterhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704747
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:07:37 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704747“With Government-Run Health Care on the Horizon, U.S. Doctors Report Surge in Requests for Species-Change Operations” http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/08/with-government-run-health-care-on.html
]]>By: 24K ladyhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704745
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:07:11 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704745Voter from WA State @2:30PM
Perhaps I didn’t explain well my concerns about any illness/disease being a moving target for this healthcare and/or heathcare insurance reform bill and those that will make the decisions down the road.

It isn’t going to matter a twit whether you have govn’t mandated insurance. However, you will be asked to pay for it. One by one the qualifications for treatment are going to limit and selectively disqualify many needing it. Only the very healthy between a given age group are going to find themselves covered for treatment and the meds needed to manage it.

An elderly friend is a Type II and was placed on meds – however, due to her age it’s doubtful she’d be in the approved group down the road for much help. What then? Yes, it was life-threatening because her blood pressure was off the chart. Then, this little thyroid problem surfaced..

She is doing much better these days but in the future?

]]>By: Kalapanahttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704740
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:06:37 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704740Sorry Ed, I didn’t mean to troll this thread. I didn’t read the whole thing. My condolences on the loss of your friend. With the government takeover of medicine apparently imminent, all Americans should look to starting preventive health measures. We will no longer be able to depend on health care being there if/when something goes wrong.
]]>By: juanitohttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704653
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:41:15 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704653Ed,

As a side note: you can function perfectly well with one kidney. I’ve never been more fit in my life.

I know someone who gave her 10 year old daughter her kidney. Both are doing great. But the daughter almost died before it was discovered that her kidneys never grew from the time of birth.

I have been an organ donor candidate ever since it was possible to place that designation on my driver’s license. I hope everyone has done so.

]]>By: Carinhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704629
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:34:46 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704629How idiotic. As a kidney donor myself (to my father) I just can’t believe that someone’s gift of life would be … disregarded in this manner.

When my father was in dialysis, he was told by the nurses that folks rarely get a kidney (out of their pool of clients – in Detroit), folks just don’t want to donate. Everyone has family members from which they can test for a match, but I guess people aren’t that willing.

As a side note: you can function perfectly well with one kidney. I’ve never been more fit in my life.

I can envision diabetics being told to just modify their diets, lose some of that fat (that’s all their fault anyway according to ‘Bambi), get some exercise (thus, the reason for the fat, according to ‘Bambi) – and you’ll be fine sweety…meds, you don’t need no stinkin’ meds.

10% of the US population are diabetics. 95% of all diabetics are Type II. Type II can be controlled by diet, weight loss and exercise. In fact, Type II can disappear if a person gets better about their diet, exercise and weight.

It is Type I that cannot be helped signficantly by diet, weight and exercise. In fact, most Type I are very thin and don’t eat a lot of sweets and carbs. Type I is because the body will not create insulin. It is a body defect. Type I is the most deadly and actually is the very expensive diabetes.

Type II is not a body defect. The body will produce insulin, just not enough. Type II diabetics rarely are forced to take medication. It can be deadly if the patient just ignores the warnings, but it is hardly an expense to the US. If Type II want to live long, they just need to lose weight, watch their diet and get more exercise. Not so with Type I.

And yes, I am somewhat educated on diabetes because it is part of my business.

]]>By: GunRunnerhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704577
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:19:24 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704577AnninCA would be happier if you would not post such stories. This kind of thing does not help her get her healthCare paid for by you.

Please keep this in mind when you are Posting Stories on deaths and horrors of Government Run Medicine. (GRM)

]]>By: 24K ladyhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704550
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:09:16 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704550This will only be a drop in the bucket before all the ‘tweaks’ are in place.

I can envision diabetics being told to just modify their diets, lose some of that fat (that’s all their fault anyway according to ‘Bambi), get some exercise (thus, the reason for the fat, according to ‘Bambi) – and you’ll be fine sweety…meds, you don’t need no stinkin’ meds.

What about mental health issues? Will those specializing in that field also be subject to counceling of end of life issues?

You can take it to the bank, any highly objectionable issues that have been taken out will be slipped back in before the final signatures are dry.

To all whose loved ones have heroicly dealt with organ failures and are now facing government failures, my sincerest prayers for your safety in the years ahead.

Not exactly an encouraging sign of Government-Care to come: Government’s cutting off transplant meds is killing people and Congress has refused to address the problem…….

]]>By: Voter from WA Statehttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704508
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:56:50 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704508I know a 10 year old girl who gets her transplant meds through Medicaid. There is no way her parents can pay the almost $2K every month.
]]>By: hawkdriverhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704475
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:50:30 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704475“her”
]]>By: hawkdriverhttp://hotair.com/archives/2009/09/14/cutting-off-transplant-meds-a-governmentcare-success-story/comment-page-1/#comment-2704472
Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:50:14 +0000http://hotair.com/?p=65548#comment-2704472

And I’m looking at the calendar now, and realizing that three years for us will come up in March 2010. Will my wife’s Medicare Advantage plan cover the meds? Since that’s going away in ObamaCare, it’s hard to think of that as a comforting thought.

My 23 yo Sarah is on year three of here new kidney. I’m thinking exactly the way you are Ed. What will change with the AR meds she has to take?